Urbana board approves long-term cell-tower lease after safety and liability concerns

The Urbana School District 116 Board of Education voted to approve a long-term lease that will allow a wireless carrier to install equipment on district property, after board members discussed the 50-year term, liability insurance and the service benefits for school safety and communications.

A board member who raised questions about insurance and the long lease term said they had researched the issue and concluded the district’s liability exposure tied to the lease would be limited to general liability and that overall insurance cost increases are more likely driven by broader market conditions, not this single site.

Board member Jennifer said the primary rationale for the lease is improved cell coverage for building occupants, including staff who sometimes cannot reach phones in remote areas of school property. "We're doing this really not as a money maker but because we need the cell service on the building grounds and within the building," she said. Other members noted AT&T and Verizon could be accommodated through tenancy discussions and that an additional tenant could be considered.

The board discussed constituent concerns about the 50-year term and the durability of technology, noting that equipment and market conditions may change; one member observed that the carrier's payments to the district would continue regardless of future technology shifts. Staff said the next required steps are zoning review with the city, a community meeting required by zoning, and then core samples and implementation scheduling if the zoning permit is approved.

By roll call the motion passed with members Baxley, Langendorf, Vice President Exom, President Palowski and Member Hixon voting yes.

The board did not set installation dates at the meeting and noted further local permitting and community outreach steps remain before construction or equipment installation can begin.